Looks like The Flash is in trouble again. THR is reporting that Rick Famuyiwa, the director of the fun indie flick Dope, which hit theaters last year, has officially left the film due to creative differences. According to the outlet, Famuyiwa’s vision of the film had “more edge” than the studio was comfortable with, hence the departure.

Famuyiwa had nothing but good things to say about his experience, though he did express his disappointment with having to leave:

"When I was approached by Warner Bros and DC about the possibility of directing The Flash, I was excited about the opportunity to enter this amazing world of characters that I loved growing up, and still do to this day.

"I was also excited to work with Ezra Miller, who is a phenomenal young actor. I pitched a version of the film in line with my voice, humor, and heart. While it’s disappointing that we couldn’t come together creatively on the project, I remain grateful for the opportunity. I will continue to look for opportunities to tell stories that speak to a fresh generational, topical, and multicultural point of view. I wish Warner Brothers, DC, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns, and Ezra Miller all the best as they continue their journey into the speed force."

Of course, this is especially disappointing for two reasons. One, the film is slated for a March 16, 2018 release date, and now that the director is out, they’ll likely have to push back production to accommodate star Ezra Miller’s own busy schedule. This means that there’s a good chance they won’t be hitting that 2018 release date. Two, this is the second time we’ve seen a director leave the project — earlier this year, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter author Seth Grahame-Smith also left due to creative differences. At some point, you have to wonder why they didn’t realize earlier on that the directors had conflicting visions from the studio.

A part of me wonders how much of this has to do with the Batman v Superman aftermath. Ever since then, they’ve seemed averse to anything remotely dark in tone, and given that THR quoted Famuyiwa’s take as having more “edge” than the studio, I wonder if it’s Warner Bros. and DC Films overreacting to critique.

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of effect this will have on the DC slate. Unless they have another director waiting in the wings, this could have a butterfly effect on their.

What do you think of this news? Are you disappointed that we won’t see Famuyiwa’s vision? Who would you hire to replace him? Let us know in the comments down below!

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